Thieves!

[Paul]

I hate them with a passion.
I had my wallet stolen tonight. You could argue that I'm lucky I never had a massive amount of money on me - but the money I had was money I couldnt afford to loose at the moment. They've just ruined my week and probably my month.

I was in Tesco (I'm sure the Scottish, English and Welsh members will know the chain) and was buying stuff for people in work during out break at 7pm tonight and went to pay for the stuff and felt around and my wallet was missing. I was in panic but sometimes I leave my wallet on my desk in work because it annoys me when I sit down - so I ran back and it wasnt there. I rushed back to Tesco and phoned home for my card details to cancel the card. I was led to the office with the CCTV in Tesco and while the guy was getting the right time sorted on it (10mins earlier) I managed to cancel my bank card.
He got someone to phone the police and he trailed through the video. He then got the shot... while I was checking my co-workers' shopping list just next to the sweets (candy) aisle - just accross from the tills 2 South Asian guys around my age walk past me and one of them just reaches in and takes my wallet, hands it to the other one and he puts it in his back pocket. Then you see me putting the list back in my pocket and walking over to the checkout.
The guy then rewinded the tapes and switched camera... the guys came in a minute after me and followed me around the store at each asile before walking past me and taking my wallet.
There's a good shot of their faces as they're walking in and out and you can see one of them paying with my wallet and the other paying with a woman's purse (probably stolen) at the checkouts. The police then came and took my statement and viewed the CCTV.

I really hope these guys are caught...I know I wont get my money back but I'm pretty sure they'll get what they deserve. I'd love to ask them why they did it though - because from what I saw of them they don't appear to be poor, starving or anything close.
I know people always say "never carry a wallet in your back pocket" and I generally don't - but it's very hard for me to even get my wallet out of this pocket without a bit of frustration. I'm amazed at how they managed - but then again they're likely to be professionals.
Not a great deal was lost other than money and a Guinness wallet. I also had a few store cards and my membership card for a political party which has some of my details (although thankfully not my address).

This wouldnt have happened if I was wearing a sporran, eh?! Maybe that'll teach me to start going to work kilted!

[cessna152towser]

I hope the police do catch these two pervs. Unfortunately in Scotland we are not allowed to chop their hands off, bet they wouldn't dare steal money in their native country. Thieves are the lowest form of parasite helping themselves to other people's hard earned money.

[Paul]

I hope the police do catch these two pervs. Unfortunately in Scotland we are not allowed to chop their hands off, bet they wouldn't dare steal money in their native country. Thieves are the lowest form of parasite helping themselves to other people's hard earned money.

exactly... I totally agree.
To be honest a few weeks ago I could spare the money but the banks really laying into me to pay back my overdraft which was supposed to happen next year. I'm going to have to sell some stuff to help me get of the minuses

[Oddern]

That's sad to hear. I so feel for you. Even if it is the money that you think of at first, its all the trouble with cansling all the cards and getting new ones. And even the thought of your identety being stolen.

[McMurdo]

So sorry to hear that bad news, I certainly hope they are caught.

[Ancienne Alliance]

I'm really sorry about that Paul.

It must be very frustrating.

My thoughts with you.


Best,

Robert

[O'Callaghan]

I'd hang them up by the short and curlies. Thieves are scum. I'd let all the drug offenders out to make room for thieves to do longer sentences.

I was only pickpocketed once, and it was while I had my wallet in my back pocket, something I never normally do, and which no-one ever should. No exceptions.

It is standard for pickpockets to immediately pass what they have stolen to another person, and sometime even hand to hand through a chain of people. This is so that if you see them and challenge them they won't have it, and the person who does have it can do a runner before you can figure out they even have it. Working in a pair is a bare minimum for a pickpocket for this reason.

The ones who stole from me were brought into the station right after I reported the theft, but they didn't have the wallet. The cops knew in advance who to pull in, because they hung out in the place where the theft occurred and they had records, but they didn't get the one who had the wallet, unfortunately, and I never saw it again.

I was also told that it is common to hand things off to a woman, so that they can't be searched without getting a woman police officer.

I didn't feel a thing. A professional can lift a wallet from any back pocket without you knowing.

You probably will never see or feel anything when pickpocketed. If I did I'd be inclined to knock them down or trip them over before they could pass it off, whereas if you tried speaking to them they could pass it at the same time, but you probably wouldn't get the opportunity.

ETA: I'm not normally an advocate of physical violence, but you have to incapacitate them before you do anything else, like speak, or your wallet will be already gone.

[Inchessi]

I feel for you, thieves are the second lowest forms of life.

Check your credit report! Talk to some one who knows about that stuff, they can put a tracker on it. If they got an I.D. then they can get a mortgage, and credit cards.

[KFCarter]

That's a rotten thing, Paul. Hope the creeps get caught and do time. But even if they do, that doesn't restore your lost time, money and peace of mind. Best to you.

[dfmacliam]

I am sorry to hear about the situation, tonight... I tend to pit my wallet in my front pocket, when in crowds, but something you experienced... I probably would have been in the same situation.. But then they would have to be really good to get my wallet out of my jeans, advantages of being a big guy... And if they did... They had best bought me dinner...lol

since you cannot cut off their hands... I'll be more than happy to come up and do it for you... LOL